Jefferson

// ﻿ C hristian M artyrs of the 3rd and 4th C entury // //**(Christian martyrs paid the ultimate price for salvation)** // // By: Audria Jefferson // // Student, Cardinal Stritch University //

**Overview:** The dictionarydescribes Christian Martyrs as those who willingly suffers or is put to death for his/her religious belief. Even here in the #|21st century there are countries where Christian Martyrs are being brutally tortured and killed for their belief in Jesus Christ. One would not want to imagine being subjected to the cruel punishments that others have endured in the past and even now here in the future. Although, here in the 21st #|century no one actually considers having to be tortured or die for their faith in Jesus Christ here in the United States of America. During the third and fourth centuries in #|Rome, Christian Martyrs were tortured for their faith in Christianity and their refusal to worship Roman idols and gods. During the reign of Emperor Diocletian, he was considered as the most blatant tormentor. Although it was stated that Diocletian became ruthless only after a fire broke out in the palace and the Christians had been accused of starting the fire. Diocletian made a decree that everyone in his household were to give themselves as a sacrifice to Jupiter to prove their innocence. The sacrifice of Diocletian household is how and when the torture of Christian Martyrs began.

Christian Martyrs were not just put to death for their belief in Christianity but tortured and brutally killed. Christian Martyrs were hunted and slaughtered like wild bores throughout the kingdom. One Christian Martyr was tortured until the flesh fell from his bones and later salt and vinegar was rubbed in his wounds for further anguish. Other Christian Marty’s were placed on a wooden rack and stretched until their bones popped out of their joints, some were hung in the air by their hands on metal hooks with heavy ball weights made of iron tied to their feet. There were Christian Martyrs who were boiled in oil, beheaded and their carcasses fed to the lions along with those nailed to X shaped crosses. Some Christian Martyrs were led to the arena like cattle for the slaughter where lions and bulls were released to rip and eat their flesh. Many of the Christian Martyrs were tied to post to ensure that they would remain standing,so that the people watching seated in the arena could get a clear view of the lions, and bulls ripping their limbs from their bodies while eating it.

Perpetua and Felicity are two martyrs who were led to the arena to die by the mouths of the lions and bulls to die in the manner of watching the flesh being torn from the body as a warning to other Christian Martyrs.Perpetua and Felicity had a deep passion for their faith in Christianity they made the decision to sacrifice themselves rather than denounce their love for Christ. Perpetua knew that by standing for her belief she would soon be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Perpetua could have made the decision to save her father from the torture he sustained while the guards beat him, or made the decision to stay alive and be with her child. Had Perpetua changed her mind and given in to the Emperor to denounce her faith the message to other Christian Martyrs may have been, not to fight for your faith but to give up and denounce Christ when you are under the pressure of torture and death. Dying was the ultimate sacrifice to martyrs and it proved to others that Christianity is salvation for your souls. The same Lord that protects you throughout your daily walk will protectyou when the beast comes to devour your flesh. Christian Marty’s believe that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price by withstanding his torture and death on Calvary so that all who believe and worship him shall live. It was stated that although Perpetua did scream with the first strike of the sword that she held and directed the sword to her throat in her last attempt to have victory over the unclean spirits. **Major Works:**
 *  2nd and 3rd century A.D. **
 * ﻿__Polycarp__ of Smyrna,around 160 A.D.
 * __Ignatius__ of Antioch in 107 A.D.
 * Justin Martyr of Palestine in 168 A.D.
 * __The Martyrs of Scili__ (in North Africa, about 180 A.D.)
 * __Perpetua and Felecity__ of Carthage in 202 A.D.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">__Origen__ of Alexandria, about 250 A.D.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">__Saint Januarius__ of #|Naples, #|Italy in 205 A.D.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">__Saint Philomena__ of Corfu, Greece (died in Rome) about 305 A.D.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Two Relevant Monographs:** **﻿** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Farina, William. Perpetua of Carthage****//Portrait of a third Century Martyr.//** **McFarland& Company, INC. Publishers, North Carolina, 1955. Print.** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Farina tells of the trials and tribulations that Perpetua faced throughout her life. Most importantly he gives an account of how Christianity is still thriving today in various countries. One would imagine that after so much persecution that the Christian martyrs would give up but, they did not. The Christian Martyrs grew along with Christianity; more people were determined to give their lives for their faith. The mention of how Christians felt regretful and low in spirit at times is a reflection of how Christians may feel now in the 21st century. The book is illustrated with passion not only for Perpetua and Felicity but all martyrs who have given their lives for the sake of freedom of Christianity. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Salisbury, Joyce E. The Blood of Martyrs. Taylor& Francis Books Inc., Rutledge of Great Britain, 2004. Print.** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">This book tells of years of collecting data, critical thinking, and careful planning put together to bring out the importance of Christian Martyrs. To those who believe in God and Jesus Christ this book not only sheds light on the past but the significance of the past and how it has proven beneficial to help shape the future for the Christians of today. There is evidence that good and evil existed then and still exist today. In the fourth chapter Salisbury explored Christianity against Christianity how Christians were fighting against one another then the same as they do today. The mention of Polycarp while in his old age held on to his faith and belief no matter how they tortured and persecuted him. It is hard to imagine one as old as Polycarp possessing ability to withstand any form of bodily harm. But the faith that Polycarp held onto gave him the strength and courage to endure. The Bloodof Martyrs is indeed a good book to read for clarity as to how long Christian Martyrs have suffered for the cause of Christianity. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Two Revelant Website:** Musurillo, H. (1972, Januar 5). //Primary Sources//.Retrieved July 11, 2011, from Primary Sources - The Martyrdom Of SaintsPerpetua And Felicitas|From Jesus to Chri... []

Unknown. (2008, January 1). //Christian Persecution//.Retrieved June 30, 2011, from Christian Persecution Roman Empire:[] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">You Tube []

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Five Study Questions:﻿**
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">What was the importance of being a martyr?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Why did Felicity hope to gain by not letting the soldiers know that she was pregnant?
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Did Perpetuas father aide in her decision to be a martyr?
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Do martyrs exist in todays world?
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Did Diocletian make the correct decision as to the workers of his household giving their lives as a sacrifice?